Looking for Empty 10mL Vials & 3mL Cartridges for University Project!!

[Fergus Brady]

Hi all,

I'm a final year engineering student and I'm basically looking to find 3x 10mL insulin vials and 5x 3mL insulin cartridges, if anyone has some lying around!

They would be shown inside a prototype for a medicine cooler for use on a motorcycle (my final year project), but as I'm not diabetic, I obviously can't pick up a prescription!

Any help would be hugely appreciated and I can cover postage costs.

Fergus

 

[J Phelan]

Hi Fergus,

I only saw this site today and, as yet, have not replied to anyone or posted. I would like to ask whether you are referring to the "old fashioned" little bottles of insulin which I doubt are still in production. Most now have "Flexpen" type things which obviously incorporate a vial of insulin (in my case, some are from Novorapid (fast acting) and others from Levemir (long acting/basal insulin). I confess I have never dismantled one of these things but I suspect there are quite a few empty ones knocking about in various places (if you saw my home you would understand the "hoarding concept" very readily). The ones I have are all 3ml x 100 units - obviously, for the safety of "Postie" I would have to remove the needles but need to just ask whether these would be of help to you?

J Phelan

 

[Robin]

Most now have "Flexpen" type things

A lot of us have reusable pens, where we remove the spent cartridge and insert a fresh one. The thing that concerns me is, there is always a bit of insulin left in the old cartridge,which can't be removed, and you're not allowed to send insulin through the post. I wonder if the dregs of a cartridge count?

 

[Matt Cycle]

Hi Fergus,

I only saw this site today and, as yet, have not replied to anyone or posted. I would like to ask whether you are referring to the "old fashioned" little bottles of insulin which I doubt are still in production. Most now have "Flexpen" type things which obviously incorporate a vial of insulin (in my case, some are from Novorapid (fast acting) and others from Levemir (long acting/basal insulin). I confess I have never dismantled one of these things but I suspect there are quite a few empty ones knocking about in various places (if you saw my home you would understand the "hoarding concept" very readily). The ones I have are all 3ml x 100 units - obviously, for the safety of "Postie" I would have to remove the needles but need to just ask whether these would be of help to you?

J Phelan

Hi

The 10ml vials are used for filling pump reservoirs. I've also still got a 1.5ml cartridge of Actrapid for the original Novopen but I'm keeping that as a memento.

 

[Fergus Brady]

Thanks for the replies everyone, sorry, I should have clarified the reason for wanting the old-fashioned/pump 10mL vials; the cooler is for use when travelling in remote areas where access to the latest delivery form of insulin and other medicine may not be possible. I already have 5x the Lantus cartridges pictured from a family friend, so if anyone has something similar that would be fantastic!!!

 

[trophywench]

Presumably you don't mind what brand of insulin it is - so Novorapid, Humalog, Apidra or Levemir etc would all do perfectly well - type 1s would never be on only one type a day anyway!!

I can't help as my pump only uses 1.4ml cartridges - but I hope some other people on here can.

I certainly wish you well with this venture - though I've always just stuffed my spares and the in-use pens in a smaller one, in Frio pouches in a pannier/tankbag or my handbag in the back box when holidaying on one of my husband's motorbikes.

 

[stephknits]

Hi, I have 10ml vials for my pump and can definitely send you some over. I think I might also have the cartridges - at least one. Are these the ones for the reusable pens? Both would be Novorapid if that is of any help

 

[Fergus Brady]

Hi, I have 10ml vials for my pump and can definitely send you some over. I think I might also have the cartridges - at least one. Are these the ones for the reusable pens? Both would be Novorapid if that is of any help

Hi Steph, that would be absolutely incredible, thank you so much!! Would you have 3 of the 10mL vials? Let me know how much postage would be and I'll send you money for it over paypal.

 

[trophywench]

Err, dunno about @stephknits Fergus - but one 10ml vial of Novorapid used to last me well over a month!

 

[Fergus Brady]

Err, dunno about @stephknits Fergus - but one 10ml vial of Novorapid used to last me well over a month!

I've designed the system to store 60mL of insulin in any form, which from my calculations equates to roughly an 8-week supply for a rather hefty 102kg male so basically keeping a safety barrier for long overland bike adventures around the world haha!